from the field

July 23, 2012
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Rachel’s Mom Visits Ethiopia

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Samantha
Samantha, Rachel’s mother, in Ethiopia along with Rachel’s grandfather, Richard

Exactly a year ago today, nine-year-old Rachel Beckwith was killed in a tragic car accident on highway I-90 near Seattle, Washington. After her death, thousands of people all around the world started donating to her mycharity: water fundraising page, and over the course of a month, raised over $1.2 million in Rachel’s honor. That money is now helping 60,000 people get access to clean water.

Rachel’s mom, Samantha, and her grandparents, Richard and Roseanne, are in Ethiopia with charity: water today, meeting some of the people Rachel helped. We’ve documented the entire day on video so we can share it with all of you. We’re busy working on it right now, and we’ll post it here on Tuesday.

Please check back on the blog soon, or sign up on our email list, so we can send the video straight to your inbox.

– the charity: water team

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July 10, 2012
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Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith get wise to water.

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Everyone was anxious, anticipating. The charity: water team, hundreds of hopeful locals, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith.

We all watched as the first charity: water rig, Yellow Thunder, and the drilling team from our partners at Relief Society of Tigray (REST), prepared to break ground. We watched because we were waiting for the people of Meago Village to get their first clean water. Located in Northern Ethiopia, most of the people here were used to walking three hours for water.

Wait, why were two American superstars with us at a drill in Ethiopia?

Will and Jada

Because in 2010, Jada and Will gave up their birthdays for charity: water. They inspired thousands of others to raise money over the course of a year and promised to bring the top fundraisers on this trip.

Last Friday, Jada and Will joined Matt Hall and Dr. John Nosti from The Smile Generation and Cameron and Suzanne Moll of Authentic Jobs, in Ethiopia. Longtime charity: water supporters and fundraisers, The Smile Generation and Authentic Jobs together raised more than $95,000 as a part of Jada and Will’s Birthday Contest. 100% of the money they donated helped fund the purchase of two drilling rig fleets for the 2011 September Campaign.

Yellow Thunder

Now, in Meago Village, they got to see exactly where their money went. In less than three minutes, Yellow Thunder hit its target, and a geyser of water burst from the ground.

Soon, more than 400 people here will have access to clean water. No more three-hour walks. No more dirty drinking water. Children can go back to school. Women can start earning income for their families. Water will change everything for this community.

And we have our dedicated supporters to thank:

Everyone who gave during the 2011 September Campaign, everyone who fundraised for the Smiths’ Birthday Contest. And of course, extra special gratitude to Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith for their graciousness and generosity, and to the dedication of The Smile Generation and Authentic Jobs. Life here just got a little better because of you.

Join Jada and Will.
Give up your next birthday for clean water by asking for donations instead of gifts. 100% of the money you raise goes to build water projects, and when the work is complete, we’ll prove each project you helped fund with photos and GPS coordinates. You’ll see how your birthday changed lives.

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June 21, 2012
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Introducing… Yellow Thunder!

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Thousands of you joined us last September and helped fund our first drilling rig. Then, in March, we were thrilled to share with you that the rig drilled its first well in Ethiopia! At charity: water, we’re big on showing impact, whether it’s through proving completed water projects with photos + GPS or sharing stories from the field on our blog.

Now, you can follow the rig’s day-to-day progress and check its location via Twitter.

drilling rig
follow it on a map
follow it on Twitter

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April 30, 2012
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Building a well is the easy part.

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At charity: water, we know that building a water project is the easy part. Keeping clean water flowing over time, however, is a complex business that requires money, training and innovative thinking. It’s something we’ve always been committed to.

In some cases, up to 30% of the cost of a charity: water project goes into training and educating the community about how to take care of the well long after we’re gone.

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April 25, 2012
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from the field: at REST in Ethiopia

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REST offices in Tigray

Our Water Programs Officer, Christy Scazzerro, flew out to Ethiopia for a week-long work session with our local partners A Glimmer of Hope and the Relief Society of Tigray. On a sunny Saturday, 20 people piled up into this conference room to brainstorm solutions to the many complexities and intricate details that go along with working in remote areas. The candy wrappers around Christy’s laptop let us know she was working hard.

Here’s a note from Christy:

Good afternoon from Mekelle!

You might be thinking — what can you possibly get done in a meeting with this many people?

In Ethiopia, decision making happens first through open dialogue, a lot of (healthy) arguing and then finally consensus. At REST, subordinates, supervisors and department heads have to be in agreement or we can’t move forward. This is why reps from Finance, Planning and Implementation are usually involved in every meeting. It’s also why we might stay on a single issue for a few hours – until we reach consensus up and down the line.

It’s been a productive week delving into new processes, reviewing operations and planning for 2012 and 2013.

Tomorrow we’ll drive to Rig #1 and sticker it up with campaigner names! Then a couple more days in the office before heading back to NYC.

See you all soon!

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